1
as in fires
to cause (a projectile) to be driven forward with force
BB guns shoot small round metal pellets
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
3
as in pops
to strike with a missile from a gun
hunters can shoot deer only during the legally specified open season
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in rushes
to proceed or move quickly
some show-off shot past all the other skiers on the slope
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in photographs
to take a photograph of
shooting the lakeside scene while the light lasted
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in casts
to throw or give off
suddenly the old, broken-down toaster began shooting out sparks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in shouts
to voice one's opinions freely with force
you've been wanting to say something since this meeting started, so shoot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in sprinkles
to mark with small spots especially unevenly
hazel eyes that were brown shot with green
Synonyms & Similar Words
9
as in sends
to cause to go or be taken from one place to another
shot a congratulatory e-mail to his friend as soon as he heard the good news
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in limbs
a branch of a main stem especially of a plant
collected the most tender shoots for the vegetable dish he was making
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in pains
a sharp unpleasant sensation usually felt in some specific part of the body
there'd be a shoot of pain from that molar whenever I bit down
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Recent Examples of shoots
Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2026
Instead of waiting to be fouled, Cayden Boozer — who shoots about 81% from the line — tried for one more pass.
—Noah Trister, Baltimore Sun, 29 Mar. 2026
Miami is now just 5-18 this season when its opponent shoots 40 percent or better on threes.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
The Hornets had a chance to break the franchise record for 3s in a game in the final 3 but rookie center Ryan Kalbrenner — who rarely shoots from deep — badly missed from the corner.
—CBS News, 25 Mar. 2026
Scorsese shoots them beautifully and deferentially.
—Matt Weinstock, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026
There, surrounded by plush bunny toys, pink lace curtains and a cross on the wall, Slayyyter shoots her dad.
—Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Jones shoots 74 and trails leader by 8 strokes.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 24 Mar. 2026
In contrast, showrunner Steven Conrad shoots the wine-tasting bike trip like the second-act fall-deeper-in-love excursion in a rom-com.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2026
Lena Dunham, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Its 17% revenue decline was such a black eye on its prior earnings report that the market didn’t even care about green shoots in North America.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 29 Mar. 2026
In that video, the influencer appears to come across what is seemingly the carcass of an alligator floating in the water and shoots it repeatedly.
—Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026
There are country walks, shoots, fishing expeditions and formal dinners.
—Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Discrete clumps of fountaineque shoots grow eight inches high and a foot in diameter.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026
Some green shoots are growing from the tree that was treated.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
The green shoots that rise from the soil under Perry Cabot’s cultivation look a little different from the standard, brushy bunches of alfalfa and other cattle forage crops growing on the flats here north of the Colorado River.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 26 Mar. 2026
A number of critics see green shoots in the show and a few really warmed to it.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 22 Mar. 2026
Verb
In a portion of the video that has been blurred, multiple shots can be heard as the officer shoots Serrano.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2026
Instead of waiting to be fouled, Cayden Boozer — who shoots about 81% from the line — tried for one more pass.
—Noah Trister, Baltimore Sun, 29 Mar. 2026
Miami is now just 5-18 this season when its opponent shoots 40 percent or better on threes.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
The Hornets had a chance to break the franchise record for 3s in a game in the final 3 but rookie center Ryan Kalbrenner — who rarely shoots from deep — badly missed from the corner.
—CBS News, 25 Mar. 2026
Scorsese shoots them beautifully and deferentially.
—Matt Weinstock, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026
There, surrounded by plush bunny toys, pink lace curtains and a cross on the wall, Slayyyter shoots her dad.
—Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Jones shoots 74 and trails leader by 8 strokes.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 24 Mar. 2026
In contrast, showrunner Steven Conrad shoots the wine-tasting bike trip like the second-act fall-deeper-in-love excursion in a rom-com.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2026
Noun
My previous shoots had involved haphazardly dragging equipment across town, stopping every few feet to pant.
—Lena Dunham, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Its 17% revenue decline was such a black eye on its prior earnings report that the market didn’t even care about green shoots in North America.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 29 Mar. 2026
In that video, the influencer appears to come across what is seemingly the carcass of an alligator floating in the water and shoots it repeatedly.
—Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026
There are country walks, shoots, fishing expeditions and formal dinners.
—Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Discrete clumps of fountaineque shoots grow eight inches high and a foot in diameter.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026
Some green shoots are growing from the tree that was treated.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
The green shoots that rise from the soil under Perry Cabot’s cultivation look a little different from the standard, brushy bunches of alfalfa and other cattle forage crops growing on the flats here north of the Colorado River.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 26 Mar. 2026
A number of critics see green shoots in the show and a few really warmed to it.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 22 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shoots
Verb
-
For example, if an employer fires an employee because of heavy menstrual bleeding resulting in leaking, that would violate the new law.—
Ann Juliano,
The Conversation,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Israel and the United States are attacking Iran's leaders and military while the Islamic Republic fires missiles and drones at Israel and Gulf Arab states.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Legacy blasts Boswell in battle of 3-6A leaders Mansfield Legacy scored 3 times in the first inning and 4 times in the fourth to help the Broncos secure a 10-3 win over Fort Worth Boswell in a District 3-6A tilt on Tuesday at Legacy High School.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Continue reading … GOVERNOR GRUMBLING — Joe Rogan blasts Newsom for allegedly mocking YouTuber investigating California fraud.—
,
FOXNews.com,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Should anyone ever find themselves in a real jam, like imprisonment by a vengeful pharaoh or life-threatening thirst, God pops by long enough to get the story back on track.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Wrong answers raise their seat, right answers raise the seat of their opponent, and the loser pops a balloon of unspecified liquid pinned to the ceiling.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Another friend rushes to join the hug.—
Mica Rosenberg,
ProPublica,
24 Mar. 2026
-
And out rushes a blazingly cathartic torrent of honesty and horror.—
Sibani Ram,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
For visitors who want to experience a side of Miami beyond the beach — and who appreciate a dining atmosphere that’s romantic, intimate, and richly textured — La Grande Boucherie is a standout choice that photographs beautifully and feels completely transporting.—
Lauren Schuster,
Kansas City Star,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The controversy centers around Lifetouch, a company that photographs millions of students nationwide each year.—
Zachary Bynum,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
That 1968 Roman Polanski horror film casts a long shadow over They Will Kill You, which also involves unwitting victims, eccentric neighbors, heinous rituals, and hell’s landlord.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Consumer protection Most coverage framing the New Mexico verdict casts it as a child safety case.—
Carolina Rossini,
The Conversation,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Molina-Mulcahy additionally shouts out color as a major sunglasses trend for 2026.—
Katie Decker-Jacoby,
StyleCaster,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Patientce Foster, her long-time creative director, shouts in approval.—
Jazmine Hughes,
Allure,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But for every shirt bearing a slogan, there were ten cheeks covered in (biodegradable) glitter like the kind that Diggins sprinkles on her face before every race.—
Bill McKibben,
New Yorker,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Groff sprinkles this punchy, athletic syntax over a slew of intricate settings.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shoots.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shoots. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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